Sealable Bag

ABSTRACT

A sealable plastic bag has a first panel and a second panel. The first and second panels are joined to each other along three edges to define a bag interior and an opening permitting access to the bag interior. A resealable sealing structure extends continuously between the first and second side edges of at least one of the panels and is configured to repeatedly and nondestructively seal and unseal the first and second panels to close and open the bag interior. A secondary sealing structure extends continuously between the first and second side edges of both of the panels below the resealable sealing structure but spaced toward the top edges of the panels. The secondary sealing structure is also configured to repeatedly and nondestructively seal and unseal the first and second panels together to close and open the bag interior.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to sealable bags, and morespecifically, a plastic bag that includes a secondary resealable sealingstructure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sealable bags are used for many different applications, such asshipping, food packaging, biohazard disposal, etc. Sealable bagsgenerally include a permanent or a temporary sealing structure,depending on the application. Some sealable bags include a peelableseal, or a permanent seal that must be unsealed before the bag can beused in addition to a temporary seal. However, the combination of apermanent seal and a temporary seal may not be preferable, becauserepeated use of multiple seals may be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a plastic bag generallycomprises a first panel having a bottom edge, first and second sideedges, and a top edge, and a second panel having a bottom edge, firstand second side edges, and a top edge. The first and second panels arejoined to each other along the respective bottom edges and first andsecond side edges to define a bag interior. The first and second panelsdefine an opening between the respective top edges permitting access tothe bag interior. A resealable sealing structure extends continuouslybetween the first and second side edges of at least one of the panelsgenerally adjacent to the top edges of the panels. The resealablesealing structure is configured to repeatedly and nondestructively sealthe first and second panels together to prevent access to the baginterior. A secondary sealing structure extends continuously between thefirst and second side edges of both of the panels at a location closerto the bottom edge than the resealable sealing structure. The secondarysealing structure is spaced from the resealable sealing structure adistance less than a distance between the secondary sealing structureand the bottom edges of the first and second panels. The secondarysealing structure is configured to selectively seal the first and secondpanels together to prevent access to the bag interior.

In another aspect of the present invention, a plastic bag generallycomprises a first panel having a bottom edge, first and second sideedges, and a top edge, and a second panel having a bottom edge, firstand second side edges, and a top edge. The first and second panels arejoined at the respective bottom edges and first and second side edges todefine a bag interior. The first and second panels define an openingbetween the respective top edges permitting access to the bag interior.An interlocking sealing structure extends continuously between the firstand second side edges of both of the panels generally adjacent to thetop edges of the panels. The interlocking sealing structure isconfigured to repeatedly and nondestructively seal and unseal the firstand second panels to close and open the bag interior. A first cling filmstrip extends continuously between the first and second side edges ofthe first panel at a location closer to the bottom edge than theinterlocking sealing structure. The first cling film strip is spacedfrom the interlocking sealing structure a distance less than a distancebetween the first cling film strip and the bottom edges of the first andsecond panels. A second cling film strip extends continuously betweenthe first and second side edges of the second panel at a location closerto the bottom edge than the interlocking sealing structure. The secondcling film strip is spaced from the interlocking sealing structure adistance less than a distance between the second cling film strip andthe bottom edges of the first and second panels. The first and secondcling film strips are adapted to repeatedly and nondestructively sealand unseal with each other to close and open the bag interior.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointedout hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a sealable bag with a front panel thereofpartially broken away to show internal construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross section of the sealable bag of FIG. 1,showing both the releasable sealing structure and the secondary sealingstructure in the sealed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section of the sealable bag of FIG. 1,illustrating the releasable sealing structure in an unsealed positionand the secondary sealing structure in the sealed position; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the unsealed positionof the sealing structures of the sealable bag of FIG. 1.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a sealable bag is shown generally at 10. Thesealable bag 10 includes coextensive front and panels 12 and 14,respectively (broadly, first and second panels). The panels 12, 14 arejoined at the bottom and sides of the bag 10. In one embodiment, thepanels 12, 14 are formed as a single sheet of material that is folded atthe bottom of the bag 10 along a linear fold 16. The side edges arejoined together by fusion lines 18 and 20. The panels 12, 14 can bejoined in other manners within the scope of this invention. For example,the panels may be formed as separate sheets and fused together along thebottom and side edges. Whether the panels are formed as one piece andfolded over, or formed as two pieces, the edges are considered to be“joined” together for purposes of this description. Furthermore, in someembodiments, the panels 12, 14 may not be coextensive. For example, thetop of one of the panels can extend above the top of the other panel.

The joined panels 12, 14 define a bag interior 22 for receiving itemsplaced in the bag 10. The top edges 24, 26 of the panels 12, 14 areinitially unsecured along their length to define an opening 28permitting access to the bag interior 22 and its contents. A resealablesealing structure extends between the side edges of the panels 12, 14near the top edges 24, 26 of the panels. The resealable sealingstructure can be any sealing structure that is repeatedly andnondestructively sealed and unsealed, such as a zipper structure,temporary adhesive, or other sealing structures known in the art.

In the illustrated embodiment, the resealable sealing structurecomprises a continuous interlocking zipper structure 30. Theinterlocking zipper structure 30 includes first and second closureprofiles 30 a, 30 b integrally formed along the panels 12, 14 near thetop edges. In the illustrated embodiment, the first closure profile 30 ais a male closure profile formed on the first panel 12, and the secondclosure profile 30 b is a female closure profile formed on the secondpanel 14. As seen in FIG. 2, the female closure profile 30 b isconfigured to receive the male closure profile 30 a to releasably sealthe panels 12, 14. The interlocking sealing structure 30 preferablyforms a leak-proof seal between the panels 12, 14 to ensure that thecontents contained in the interior 22 of the bag 10 cannot escape. Theinterlocking zipper structure 30 can have any suitable configuration(such as those that are well known in the art, including those havingmultiple interlocking closure profiles, or interlocking closure profilesof different shapes than those shown).

Each of the panels 12, 14 can also include an extruded rib 36 locatedabove the interlocking zipper structure 30 toward the respective topedges 24, 26. The ribs 36 are coextruded with the panels 12, 14, andprovide a gripping surface for a user to easily grab the top portions ofthe panels to pull them apart and unseal the interlocking sealingstructure 30. Although one rib on each panel is illustrated, otherconfigurations for the top portion of the panels are within the scope ofthe present invention, such as multiple ribs or a textured pattern. Itis also understood that the rib can be omitted within the scope of thepresent invention.

The bag 10 also includes a secondary sealing structure located below theresealable sealing structure. The secondary sealing structure and theresealable sealing structure are both proximate the top edges 24, 26 ofthe panels 12, 14. The resealable sealing structure and secondarysealing structure may be immediately adjacent each other or separated.Preferably, the separation between the resealable sealing structure andthe secondary sealing structure is less than the separation between thesecondary sealing structure and the bottom fold (or “edge”) of thepanels 12, 14. The secondary sealing structure can be any sealingstructure that is repeatedly and nondestructively sealed and unsealed toclose and open the bag interior 22. The secondary sealing structureensures the bag 10 is closed, and adds a second layer of protectionagainst accidental spills of the contents of the bag. In the illustratedembodiment, the secondary sealing structure comprises a pair of clingfilm strips 40, 42, each extending continuously between the side edgesof a panel 12, 14.

The cling film strips 40, 42 are co-extruded with the panels 12, 14. Thecling film strips are made of a different material than the panels 12,14, which is essentially embedded in the material for the panels 12, 14for co-axial extrusion. The cling film strips 40, 42 can sealinglyengage each other to provide a secondary seal preventing access to thebag interior 22. In one embodiment, the cling film is made of a plasticwrap material, such as linear low-density polyethylene/Ethylene VinylAcetate (LLDPE/EVA), formulated without a slip additive. The omission ofa slip additive ensures that each cling film strip will be tacky andstick to the other cling film strip. In another embodiment, the clingfilm is made of metallocene linear low-density polyethylene (mLLDPE),which is very tacky without a slip additive. Other materials known inthe art are within the scope of the present invention.

The cling film strips 40, 42 are tacky and sealingly engage each otherby sticking together along the width of the panels 12, 14 between theside edges thereof. Because of the tackiness of the cling film strips40, 42, they will engage each other even without pressure applied by theuser. Thus, the bag 10 will be closed by the cling film strips 40, 42,as shown in FIG. 3, unless a user selectively chooses to hold the bagopen, in the position shown in FIG. 4. This default closed position isuseful to prevent accidental spilling of the bag contents.Alternatively, the cling film strips 40, 42 can require pressure from auser to sealingly engage each other.

The bag 10 can include different colored portions to provide informationto the user about the status of the seal between the cling film strips40, 42. In one embodiment, the interlocking structure 30 is a differentcolor than the panels 12, 14. The closure profiles 30 a, 30 b of theinterlocking structure 30 can also be colored differently than eachother to indicate to a user when the closure profiles have been engagedand the zippered structure has been closed. In another embodiment, thecling film strips 40, 42 are a different color than the panels 12, 14.This displays to a user the location of the cling film strips 40, 42,which indicates where the user should press if necessary to sealinglyengage the cling film strips. The cling film strips 40, 42 can also becolored differently than each other to indicate to a user when the clingfilm strips have been sealingly engaged.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent thatmodifications and variations are possible without departing from thescope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferredembodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” areintended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms“comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above products without departingfrom the scope of the invention, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description and shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plastic bag comprising: a first panel having abottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge; a second panelhaving a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge, thefirst and second panels being joined to each other along the respectivebottom edges and first and second side edges to define a bag interior,the first and second panels defining an opening between the respectivetop edges permitting access to the bag interior; a resealable sealingstructure extending continuously between the first and second side edgesof at least one of the panels generally adjacent to the top edges of thepanels, the resealable sealing structure being configured to repeatedlyand nondestructively seal the first and second panels together toprevent access to the bag interior; and a secondary sealing structureextending continuously between the first and second side edges of bothof the panels at a location closer to the bottom edge than theresealable sealing structure, the secondary sealing structure beingspaced from the resealable sealing structure a distance less than adistance between the secondary sealing structure and the bottom edges ofthe first and second panels, the secondary sealing structure beingconfigured to selectively seal the first and second panels together toprevent access to the bag interior.
 2. The plastic bag of claim 1,wherein the resealable sealing structure comprises a zipper structure.3. The plastic bag of claim 1, wherein the resealable sealing structurecomprises adhesive.
 4. The plastic bag of claim 1, wherein the secondarysealing structure comprises a pair of cling film strips.
 5. The plasticbag of claim 4, wherein each of the pair of cling film strips comprisesmetallocene linear low-density polyethylene.
 6. The plastic bag of claim1, wherein the resealable sealing structure is a different color thanthe first and second panels.
 7. The plastic bag of claim 1, wherein thesecondary sealing structure is a different color than the first andsecond panels.
 8. The plastic bag of claim 1, wherein the secondarysealing structure is a different color than the resealable sealingstructure.
 9. The plastic bag of claim 1, further comprising an extrudedrib extending continuously between the first and second side edges of atleast one of the panels at a location closer to the top edge than theresealable sealing structure.
 10. A plastic bag comprising: a firstpanel having a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge;a second panel having a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and atop edge, the first and second panels being joined at the respectivebottom edges and first and second side edges to define a bag interior,the first and second panels defining an opening between the respectivetop edges permitting access to the bag interior; an interlocking sealingstructure extending continuously between the first and second side edgesof both of the panels generally adjacent to the top edges of the panels,the interlocking sealing structure being configured to repeatedly andnondestructively seal and unseal the first and second panels to closeand open the bag interior; a first cling film strip extendingcontinuously between the first and second side edges of the first panelat a location closer to the bottom edge than the interlocking sealingstructure, the first cling film strip being spaced from the interlockingsealing structure a distance less than a distance between the firstcling film strip and the bottom edges of the first and second panels;and a second cling film strip extending continuously between the firstand second side edges of the second panel at a location closer to thebottom edge than the interlocking sealing structure, the second clingfilm strip being spaced from the interlocking sealing structure adistance less than a distance between the second cling film strip andthe bottom edges of the first and second panels, the first and secondcling film strips being adapted to repeatedly and nondestructively sealand unseal with each other to close and open the bag interior.
 11. Theplastic bag of claim 10, wherein the first and second cling film stripscomprise metallocene linear low-density polyethylene.
 12. The plasticbag of claim 10, wherein the interlocking sealing structure is adifferent color than the first and second panels.
 13. The plastic bag ofclaim 12, wherein the first and second cling film strips are a differentcolor than the first and second panels.
 14. The plastic bag of claim 10,wherein the first and second cling film strips are a different colorthan the interlocking sealing structure.
 15. The plastic bag of claim10, wherein the first cling film strip is a different color than thesecond cling film strip to provide visual indication to a user when thefirst and second cling film strips are engaged.
 16. The plastic bag ofclaim 10, further comprising an extruded rib extending continuouslybetween the first and second side edges of at least one of the panels ata location closer to the top edge than the interlocking sealingstructure.
 17. The plastic bag of claim 10, wherein the first cling filmstrip is co-extruded with the first panel and the second cling filmstrip is co-extruded with the second panel.